TOKYO: Preliminary government data released on Tuesday painted a concerning picture of Japan’s demographic landscape, indicating that the nation’s birth rate continued its downward trajectory for an eighth consecutive year, reaching an unprecedented low in 2023.
This persistent decline highlights the formidable challenge Japan faces in grappling with depopulation, a phenomenon with far-reaching societal and economic implications.
In 2023, the number of newborns in Japan decreased by 5.1% compared to the previous year, plummeting to 758,631.
Furthermore, the data revealed a simultaneous downturn in the number of marriages, which decreased by 5.9% to 489,281. Notably, this marks the first time in 90 years that the number of marriages has fallen below the 500,000 thresholds, signaling a potential continuation of the population decline.
In Japan, where cultural norms traditionally favor marriage before childbirth, the decline in marriage rates also suggests a reluctance or delay in starting families.
